TL;DR
A new law requires all company directors to prove who they are. This stops criminals from hiding behind fake companies. If you don't verify, your company can't file important paperwork.
Why Directors Must Verify
The Problem
For years, anyone could become a director of a UK company without proving who they were. This caused problems:
The Solution
Identity Verification
Now, everyone who runs a company must prove who they are. Just like showing ID to open a bank account, directors must verify their identity through an approved service.
This makes it much harder for criminals to:
- Use fake or stolen identities
- Set up companies for fraud
- Hide their real identity from authorities
- Avoid responsibility for illegal activities
The Law
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
This new law gave Companies House more power to check who runs UK companies. The main changes:
All directors must verify
Not optional – it's a legal requirement
Companies House can check
They can investigate if something looks wrong
Filings can be rejected
Without verified ID, Companies House won't accept your paperwork
What Happens If You Don't Verify?
Consequences of Not Verifying
Your company can't file
Companies House will reject your Confirmation Statement and other filings
Late filing penalties
If you can't file on time because you haven't verified, you could face fines
Company struck off
If you don't file for too long, your company could be removed from the register
Can't act as a director
You may be prevented from being a director of any company
Benefits of Verifying
Peace of mind
Know your company is compliant with the law
File with ease
Your paperwork will be accepted by Companies House
No annual renewal
Verify once — you use the same code each time
Quick and easy
Digital verification takes just 5-10 minutes
Ready to Verify?
It only takes 5-10 minutes. Get it done today and never worry about it again.